Can Chickens Eat Raisins – What Do You Think?

Here is one thing that I think you will know what I have to say to you.

But let’s have a look at it anyway.

Can chickens eat Raisins?

Let’s find out, shall we…

Can Chickens Eat Raisins

Raisins are tasty at the best of times.

Packed with taste.

So what does that say when you think of your chickens.

They will come running if they fix their beady eyes on them.

Once you have given them raisins a few times.

They will probably recognise them by sight.

The next time you go into their chicken run.

So…

Yes.

Raisins are safe for your chickens and something they will be happy to get whenever you can give them some.

But…

Raisins need to be fed in small amounts.

Now your chickens might argue this fact.

And they are always going to ask you for more when you feed them these treats.

But this is one time that you have to be tough with them and say no.

In fact, large amounts of raisins can make your chickens very sick with renal failure.

So there is a good enough reason to not give them too many.

And…

The sugar factor
.
I know that this is natural sugar.

Can chickens eat raisins in big quantities if the sugar is natural?

Natural or refined sugar…

It is still fattening.

And they will also put on weight quickly due to the sugar content in raisins.
Not that your chickens care about that.

It’s the taste that usually wins us all over.

So like ourselves we have to be tough, not only in our case, also with your backyard chickens.

Are Raisins Safe For chickens

We have already determined that raisins are indeed safe for your chickens.

But there is a downside to all that taste.

And that is the sugar content.

That just how it is.

But nature does this, the taste I mean.

To get us to eat them.

And not always is it in the best interest of ourselves or our chickens if we happen to eat too many.

Do not let the sugar content in raisins scare you off though…

As they do contain good amounts of copper, iron, and vitamins, and also magnesium, and potassium.

Now, these are essential for the making of red blood cells and carrying that much-needed oxygen throughout the body.

How many Raisins Can Chickens Eat

Is there ever enough when it comes to raisins.

See also Getting to Know the Lavender Orpington Breed
If only the sugar content was lower but we all love it.

So…

On average it is said that you should be feeding your chickens about 10 grams of raisins per chicken.

Now if you are like me you are not going to et out the scale and measure this amount for each of your chickens and feed them individually.

Are you?

I would just be guessing here.

Just look at the amount you have and determine how many to give the flock you have.

You can always just throw it on the ground in your chicken run and watch them literally barge each other out the way to get the most.

Yes, competition…

But at least this way you know that no one chicken is going to get too many.

Due to their nature, you need to make sure you get the right portion compared to other fruit.

On average you should be feeding your chickens about 10 grams of raisins per chicken, this should be enough to give your chicken a treat without overfeeding them.

Can chickens eat raisins by the bucket full if you were not there?

I would not want to answer that one…

Are Raisins Good For Chickens?

As we have mentioned raisins are indeed safe for your chickens to eat as long as you give these treats in moderation.

Remember I did say treats!

They are beneficial and also fattening.

But is that not like most things?

Just like ourselves, there are the foods that we love.

And mainly they have sugar content to them.

If this was not a problem would we all not have a kitchen cupboard full of goodies that we would love to eat all the time.

Our chickens are no different from us.

But they can not go to the shops and buy all these treats.
As they have no money to do so.

So we have to choose for them.

Apart from when they get out into the backyard and raid your vegetable patch, fruit trees and anything they can get their beaks at.

They will even jump high at anything they feel is going to be good eating,
Don’t we love them…

Can Baby Chickens Eat Raisins

Yes, baby chickens can eat raisins.

But be aware that they are young chicks and you should be careful how many you give to them.

See also Happy Hens, Healthy Eggs: The Benefits of Raising Contented Chickens
But there is one thing that you do need to do first.

And that is to soak the raisins.

As you know raisins are fairly big.

And the last thing we need is for a chicken to get a raisin stuck in its throat.

They will have a go bigger raisins if put in front of them.

So you need to regulate and pick which is going to be ok for them and their different ages.

The bigger the raisins.

But just soak them and give them very little.

Can Hens Eat Raisins

Hens roosters, it’s all the same.

Now if you just have hens in your backyard chicken coop.

They will love the fact that you are treating them with food that is just packed with flavour.

And they seem to remember.

If you do have a rooster and threw down these lovely treats he would call them over.

But in this case, he would almost get pushed over by the hoard of hens running up to get at these raisins.

Can Chickens Eat Dried Raisins

Can chickens eat raisins that are dried?

You know yourself that dried raising are pretty unforgiving.

They are hard and therefore do not even taste a much as undried raisins.

So because of this, you are better off soaking them if you like.

But your chickens are still going to get through their flesh if they just don’t swallow them hole that is…

But either way.

If you throw in the dried raisins they are still going to be picked up as quickly that you would think twice if you have bought any raisins down for them to eat at all…

Because they will be looking at you and there will be not a raisin insight.

So can chickens eat raisins?

You better get out of the way once you have thrown them down in the chicken run.
Or you too might just be overrun with chickens pecking at your feet.

Or even worse you just might get knocked over.

Well…

I doubt that is going to happen unless you have some pretty big chickens in your chicken run.

But beware of the chickens that catch sight of you with a hand full of raisins.

As you might just have a chicken run full of flying feathers as they jostle for the best spot, and that spot is the closest to you.